Locomotive cylinder structure



De 29, 1936. w. o. ASHE LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDER STRUCTURE Filed Jan. l2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 29, 1936. W, o. ASHE 2,065,548

LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDER STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @10. my/,am a. ,4556,

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William O. Ashe, St.

Louis, Mo., assgnor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1935, Serial No. 1,447

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in novel cylinder saddle construction for steam locomotives.

The portions of the locomotive cylinder saddle which are secured to the locomotive main side frames and frequently cooperate therewith to form the complete underframe structure are subjected to heavy bending and twisting stresses, due to the alternating thrusts of the pistons, and are subjected to thermal stresses, due to greatly varying temperatures of the central part of the saddle and the cylinders and steam passages. Breakage occasionally occurs at the connection between the cylinder saddle and the side frames, necessitating withdrawal of the locomotive from service with substantial loss of time and money for repairs.

One object of the present invention is to strengthen the parts mentioned so as to avoid such breakage Without undue concentration of material which would tend to concentrate and thereby increase the stresses due to twisting,

thermal differences, and other forces.

Another object is to improve the attachment of the cylinder saddle to the locomotive main frame.

These objects and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are attained by the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a part of a locomotive cylinder saddle and main frame illustrating the invention and taken on the line I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a rear half end view of the cylinder saddle and showing the side frame in transverse section.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical transverse section 40 taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view corresponding to Figure l but showing a modiiication.

Figure 6 is a half end view and transverse section corresponding to Figure 2 and showing the modied form.

Figure '7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 'I-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section corresponding to Figure 5 and showing still another modication.

Figure 9 is a half end view and transverse section corresponding to Figure 6 and showing the modification in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a side frame portion I of a locomotive underframe having a forward extremity `Ia for supporting the front deck and pilot beam (not shown) and a reduced portion Ib forming a seat 2 for the cylinder saddle.

The cylinder saddle illustrated is formed as an integral cast metal structure including the main steam cylinders 3, steam control valve chests 4, each having a live steam inlet 5, and a smoke box support, generally indicated at 6, extending between the main side frames I, only one of which is shown, and with a boiler seating ange l around its upper extremity. Extending diagonally through the smoke box support are the exhaust passages 8 merging in the upwardly extending exhaust nozzle il for discharging into the smoke box (not shown). The smoke box support cornp-rises transverse front and rear walls I0 and II anda bottom wall I2 having seats or bearings I3 at the sides immediately adjacent the main steam cylinders 3 for resting upon the side frames I. Depending vertically from the lateral edges of the bottom wall I2 are the anges I4 apertured for receiving the bolts I 5 rigidly attaching the cylinder saddle to the side frames; Each main steam cylinder 3 is rigidly attached to the lower part of the saddle by means of the curved longitudinal webl I5 and the box-shaped connections II merging with the adjacent bolting ange I4.

Each bolting ilange I4 extends outwardly or longitudinally beyond the transverse outer walls Il) and II, as at I8 and I9, and is similarly apertured for the bolts 20 attaching the portions I8 and 2S to the outside of the main side frame. Extending upwardly and inwardly from the extremities of portions I8 and I9 and in vertical alinement therewith are the bracing elements 2l and 22 merging, respectively, with the front and rear walls I0 and II of the smoke box support substantially above the frame engaging bearings i3,

Apex-tures 23 and 24 are provided in the vertical web portions of the outwardly projecting members I8, 2|, and I9, 22 for facilitating machining of the frame it vertical shoulders 25 and 26 on the lugs 2'I and 28 located immediately inwardly of the attaching extensions. The forward aperture 23 also facilitates application of i the cylinder key 29 for tightly wedging the cylinder saddle Within its seating depression in the upper surfaces of the side frame so as to relieve the bolts I5 and 20 of shearing forces. Extending between the lugs 21 and 28 and the extensions I8, 2 I, and I9, 22, on each side are the horizontal flanges and 3|.

In Figures 5, 6, and 7, the cylinder saddle includes main steam cylinders 32, valve chests 33, exhaust passages 34, and smoke box support 35, in general similar to the corresponding parts of the previous form. The depending flanges 36 are bolted to the outsides of the main side frames 31, as in the previous form, but terminate only slightly beyond the saddle outside transverse walls 38.

The saddle bottom wall 39 extends rearwardly substantially beyond the rear transverse wall 38, as at 48, and mounts the brake cylinder 4I intermediate the side frames 31. Depending from the lateral extremities of the horizontal web 48 are additional bolting flanges 42 for receiving the bolts 42a. The horizontal web 40 is further reinforced by the transverse vertical flange 43 extending across its rear edge and the longitudinal 'central rib 44.

Extending diagonally upwardly and inwardly from the web in vertical alinement with the bolting flanges 42, are the bracing elements 45 merging with the saddle wall 38 substantially above the saddle bottom wall 39. The vertical web portions of the combined members 42, 45 are apertured at 46, as in the previous form, to facilitate machining the frame nt shoulders 41.

In Figures 8, 9,-and l0, the bolting flanges 48 depending beneath the central portion of the saddle are bolted to the outsides of the main side frames 49. The flanges 48 extend outwardly beyond the saddle transverse rear wall 50, as at 5l, somewhat as in Figures 1 to 4, and are bolted to the side frames by bolts 52. Extending above the side frames 49 and between the outward bolting extensions 5I, is the substantially horizontal web 53 having a depressed central portion mounting the brake cylinder 54. Web 53 is further reinforced by the depending flange 55 extending along its rear edge-and the upwardly extending ribs 56 and 51.

Extending above the bolting extension 5I on each side, is the upwardly and inwardly inclined bracing element 58 merging with the saddle transverse rear-wall substantially above the saddle bottom wall 59. The vertical web portions of the extensions 5I, 58 are apertured, as at 60, as in the previous forms, to facilitate machining of the frame llt shoulders 6I.

In each of the forms in Figures 5 to 7 and 8 to 10, the saddle and its main frame connection at the front thereof may be reinforced by bolting flange extensions and braces corresponding to'the elements I8 and 2| in Figures l to 4, or the additional braces at the front may be omitted.

In each of the forms, the cylinder saddle itself is provided with bolting flange extensions for attachment to the main side frames to strengthen the connection of the cylinder saddle with the underframe. Adequate braces are provided for the bolting flange extensions which further strengthen the connection. The outward bolting extensions serve to reinforce the portions of the saddle immediately adjacent the steam cylinders against injury due to twisting, bending, differential thermal, and other forces. In Figures 5 to 10, the bolting extensions are provided with broad transverse braces which serve as convenient mountings for one or more brake cylinders or other auxiliary equipment.

In each of the forms, the cylinder saddle is constructed as an integral metal casting, but certain features of the invention may be embodied in a built-up saddle structure. The invention may be modified in this respect and others, as will occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit thereof and the exclusive use of all such modifications corning within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive structure, a cylinder saddle body having an element adapted to engage an abutment on the locomotive main frame to assist in maintaining the body in position, a flange depending from said body for bolting to said main frame and extending outwardly from below said element and then upwardly to form a brace between a portion of said body above said element and a point on said main frame spaced longitudinally thereof from said body, y

there being an opening in the upwardly extending portion of said flange to facilitate machining of said element.

2. Structure as described in claim l in which said flange extends forwardly from -said saddle body and a similar flange extends rearwardly of said saddle body, the opening in one of said extensions being arranged for application of a cylinder key between the adjacent element and abutment.

3. In a locomotive, main frames each having a recess in its upper face, a cylinder saddle including a horizontal web extending between said frames and seated in said recesses, said saddle having an upright transverse Wall above said frames, bolting flanges depending from said horizontal web adjacent to said frames and extending along the same a substantial distance outwardly from said upright wall, diagonal elements merging with sai-d upright wall and the outer portions of said bolting flanges, there being openings in said diagonal members and said bolting flanges adjacent to the edge of said horizontal web, and wedging keys movable through said openings into the spaces between the edge of said web and the ends of said recesses.

. 4.- In a locomotive, main frames each having a recess in its upper face, a cylinder saddle including a horizontal web extending between said frames and seated in said recesses, said saddle having front and rear upright transverse wallsv above'said frames, bolting flanges depending from said horizontal web adjacent to each of said frames and extending along the same a substantial distance from each of said walls, diagonal elements merging with said upright walls and the outer portions of said bolting flanges, there being openings in said diagonal members and said bolting flanges adjacent to the edge of said `horizontal web, and wedging keys movable through said openings into the spaces between one edge of said web and the adjacent ends of said recesses.

WILLIAM O. ASHE. 

